Appalachian College Association
International Seminar Grant
A Pacific Ocean to Brazil Transect:
Environmental, economic and political
issues at subtropical latitudes in South America:
Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil
Dr. James Reynolds, Brevard College
Environmental Studies, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences
Brevard College, Brevard, NC 28712
Tel: (828) 884-8377, Fax: (828) 884-3790, E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.org
Dr. Todd S. Fredericksen, Ferrum College
Dr. Carmen McEvoy, University of
Tremendous environmental/ecological diversity is present
at subtropical latitudes (23º-33º S) across the South American continent. These
changes result from a combination of the descent of dry upper atmospheric winds
along the Subtropical Divergence and the Andes Mountains along the western margin of the continent. The arid,
coastal Atacama Desert, in Chile, gives way to high ranges and active volcanoes of the
Andes and the Puna Plateau along the border with Argentina. Peaks that soar above 20,000’ are covered with snow
and ice. The eastern side of the Andes is an arid rain-shadow desert in the Cordillera Oriental. Atlantic
Ocean moisture reaches the
plains to the east of the mountains to form the semiarid savanna of the Chaco.
Increasing amounts of rainfall farther to the east allow a subtropical rain
forest to flourish. This rich diversity of ecosystems provides an equally rich
diversity of indigenous flora and fauna.
this excursion offers a complete transect of a modern mountain belt that is
still rising. The transect ends in an area where Cretaceous rifting started to
form a new ocean basin. This event was aborted and rifting started anew at the
present margin of the South
Atlantic Ocean. The trip
will also pass through important regions for metals and petroleum extraction.
trip will introduce the students to the capital cities of Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay, allowing students to experience significant
diversity in Latin American cultures. There will be numerous opportunities to
discuss the political and social development of these countries and chances to
visit important historical sites. Of particular historical interest will be the
battlefields near Santiago, Chile where decisive victories were won against the Spanish during the war
an interdisciplinary experience to students through examples of how climatic,
geological, ecological, environmental, historical, sociological, and
politico-economic issues shape various countries in South
students to several distinct South American cultures rich in ethnic
heritage, where spoken English is rare, and lifestyles are very different
from that of the students.
ACA students and faculty the opportunity to collaborate with students and
faculty from South American universities.
ACA students with the opportunity to communicate in a language other than
among faculty in Latin America
Jim Reynolds has conducted geological research in Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Trinidad
& Tobago, making more than 25 trips to Latin America. In 1989, he
was a Fulbright Scholar in Argentina and taught a
short course at six Argentine universities. He speaks fluent Spanish and has
numerous government, academic, and industrial contacts. He is a recognized
expert in Argentine geology, particularly in the northwestern part of the
country. He has also led numerous student trips abroad.
Todd Fredericksen, a forestry and wildlife expert, lived in Bolivia for six years
working for the U.S. Agency for International Development. He speaks fluent Spanish and has contacts with
Paraguayan forest products businessmen who will contribute to the success of
Carmen McEvoy, a
native of Peru, is a Latin American historian. She was a John Simon Guggenheim Fellow in
2002 in Chile and has traveled extensively in Latin America. She has written several books and articles about the
political cultures and rise of nationalism in Peru and Chile.
Travel arrangements will be provided by
Sumaj Kay travel agency of Salta, Argentina. Reynolds has
led three very successful trips, in both northern Argentina and Patagonia, using their
Lectures and discussions
Lectures by ACA faculty in
their areas of expertise as well as discussions with local government
officials, scientists, and community leaders.
Visit numerous sites of
geological/ecological/ environmental interest and diversity.
Social and Cultural Activities
Visits to colonial cities,
historical sites, cultural centers. Meet students from Salta University.
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